Zakk Wylde is gearing up to release the new album from his band Black Label Society, but he’s also hoping to hit the stage with Ozzy Osbourne again once the Prince of Darkness’ farewell tour resumes. The guitarist recently caught up with Heavy Consequence to not only discuss BLS, but also his contributions to the upcoming Ozzy album, his reverence for the late Eddie Van Halen, and his latest workout and diet regimen.
In Part 1 of our video Zoom interview, which we recently shared, Zakk talked all about the new Black Label Society album, Doom Crew Inc., as well as the band’s current tour. In Part 2 (watch above), he discusses his working relationship with Ozzy, both past and present.
Speaking on the recent 30th anniversary of Ozzy’s No More Tears album, on which Wylde played guitar, he told us, “There was a ton of drinking, a ton of laughing, a ton of good times.”
Wylde also plays guitar on the upcoming Ozzy solo album, which boasts contributions from a few of Zakk’s own guitar heroes. “It’s pretty mind-blowing,” exclaimed Wylde. “If you would’ve told me when I was 14 years old, in my bedroom practicing, that I was going to be on an album with Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck — all my heroes — I would’ve told you, ‘Forget about it!’ … The tracks that they’re playing solos on, I’m playing rhythm guitar, so I’m beyond honored.”
In addition to playing on Ozzy’s forthcoming album, Wylde plays in the metal legend’s solo band, and hopes to finally resume touring with the Prince of Darkness on the latter’s farewell tour — which had begun in 2018 but was put on hold due to both Ozzy’s health setbacks and the pandemic. As of now, the tour is scheduled to resume in late January with a European leg featuring support from Judas Priest.
Elsewhere in the interview, with the recent one-year anniversary of Eddie Van Halen’s passing, we asked Wylde what the guitar icon meant to him. “He changed the world,” remarked Wylde. “If this was a Catholic hierarchy, Eddie was the second coming of Christ. If Jimi [Hendrix] is the Jesus Christ of guitar, Eddie was the second coming.”
Wylde also spoke to us about the 50th anniversary of Led Zeppelin IV, and of course, we couldn’t let him go without finding out if he’s still on the Kim Kardashian workout and diet program.
Watch Part 2 of our Zakk Wylde interview above, and pick up tickets to Black Label Society’s remaining 2021 tour dates via Ticketmaster. You can also pre-order the new BLS album, Doom Crew Inc., ahead of its November 26th release at Amazon.
Trouble viewing the video above? Watch on YouTube.
